Currant — a berry bush from the Kryzhovnikovye family. It is widespread in Eurasia, North America. Some types meet in the territory of South America along the Andes. Their berries are eaten fresh, from them cook jam, jams, compotes, fruit jelly, syrup and even wine. Leaves are used in cookery too. On their basis cook fragrant teas, broths, use as fragrance for meat and fish dishes. From a plant there is an advantage and in medicine. We will also tell about it in article.
Chemical composition
Foliage of currant contains:
- ascorbic acid (on average 245 mg of %);
- carotene;
- phytoncides;
- essential oils;
- terpenic alcohol;
- phenols;
- flavonols (on average 697 mg of %);
- oxycinnamon acids (on average 147 mg of %);
- bioflavonoids (on average 4319 mg of %);
- flavones (free kakhetina, proantotsianida, the condensed kakhetina);
- phenolic acids (salicylic, tannin, gallic, coffee, ferulic, paracoumaric);
- anthocyans;
- calcium (327 mg of %);
- phosphorus (7.5 mg of %);
- magnesium (370 mg of %);
- potassium (158 mg of %);
- sodium (2 mg of %);
- iron (0.5 mg of %);
- zinc (0.75 mg of %);
- copper (0.75 mg of %);
- manganese (1.5 mg of %);
- iodine (0.0005 mg of %);
- molybdenum (0.005 mg of %).
Data on structure are provided for foliage of blackcurrant, one of the most widespread types.
Important! The size of mg of % (milligram-percent) is intended for concentration measurement. Its approximate value: the number of milligrams of a certain substance in 100 grams of studied.
Medicinal properties
- The essential oils which are contained in leaves work as antibiotics. They kill the bacteria affecting the upper airways.
- Vitamin C together with some flavonoids strengthens blood vessels, does them by less permeable, increases firmness of an organism before viruses.
- Phytoncides oppress the microorganisms causing dysentery and diphtheria.
- Thanks to ascorbic acid the leaf of currant is the fine toning, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and cleaning means.
- Bactericidal properties of foliage help at treatment of dermatitis, a scrofula (exudative diathesis).
- The leaf of currant together with leaves of raspberry and cowberry is used as vitamin collecting during avitaminosis, at diseases of a blood system, at atherosclerosis, at cold.
Application
Currant — a food, vitamin, essential oil-bearing, medical, melliferous and fitontsidny plant.
Read also about curative properties and recipes of traditional medicine with application of a honeysuckle, an asaa, mespilus, blueberry, a godzha, a guelder-rose, a cornel, a cranberry, cloudberries, a linden, a thyme, bearberry, plantain, a calendula, a wormwood, a hyssop, sage, a hawthorn, dogrose.
In cosmetology
Using a leaf of currant in cosmetology, it is possible:
- to feed and moisturize the skin;
- to intensify processes on restoration of fabrics;
- to narrow pores and to normalize work of sebaceous glands;
- to remove irritations and inflammatory processes from integuments;
- to level tone of the person and to get rid of pigmentary spots;
- to strengthen hair and nails;
- to nourish with vitamins skin and hair;
- to improve production of collagen;
- to rejuvenate an integument;
- to bring excess liquid out of an organism.
- Face pack. We wash fresh leaves of currant and small we cut. In 150 ml of sour milk we pour out one and a half tablespoons of foliage. Everything is well stirred. Before use we wring out mix with the help of a gauze and we put on a face, slightly massing skin. We leave for 20 minutes and we wash away. Such mask levels complexion.
- Means for growth and strengthening of hair. We take two tablespoons of foliage of currant and we make in five glasses of boiled water. We insist night and since morning we begin to drink 0.2 ml four times in a day.
In cosmetology often also use oil such plants as rosemary, a sea-buckthorn, hemp, a sandalwood and also a peach, jojoba, walnut, orange and a lemon.
In medicine
Broths and infusions from leaves of currant improve work of bark of adrenal glands. Also are applied to treatment of gastritises and ulcers in a chronic form at the lowered acidity, some diseases of a cardiovascular system. Are diuretic and bile-expelling means. Bathtubs with broth from leaves of currant help to cope with diathesis symptoms in the early childhood.
The plant and in complex treatment is applicable at diseases of a liver, a respiratory system, an urolithic disease.
The rich vitamin and mineral structure allows to use a plant for fight against avitaminosis, increases immunity, helps to eliminate overfatigue
Harm and contraindications
Do not recommend to have currant tea in sweating rooms to people with obesity, elevated pressure and other cardiological problems as it can overload heart.
At consumption of teas as diuretic and sudorific at colds there is an organism dehydration probability. Therefore it is necessary to increase amount of the drunk water.
At a hypertension recommend to use beet juice, beet, unab, a cranberry, a black-fruited mountain ash, sweet cherry, a bee perga, a feijoa, cape gooseberry.
Leaves can become the reason of emergence of allergic reactions in people, sensitive to components of a plant.
Preparation of leaves of currant
Leaves of currant collect when the plant faded, but did not begin to fructify yet. Approximately it is June. Average leaflets are suitable for preparation. Top and lower do not use. Break them manually, then dry on fabric or paper in a shadow. Ready leaves have to break easily in hands. Store them in a fabric sack in the dry aired place.
It is important! If you plan independent preparation of raw materials, then it is desirable to do it on the sites or where you are sure that the plant is not processed by pesticides.
Drinks from currant leaves
We already spoke about for what purposes use currant decoction. Now we will tell several words about other drinks and we will provide several recipes.
Tea from currant leaves
Such teas help at:
- problems with kidneys;
- urolithic disease;
- to gout;
- hypostases.
Vitamin tea tones up and cleans an organism, satisfies thirst.
Simple recipe: in a teapot we make a handful of foliage and we insist within five minutes. It is possible to add sugar and usual tea leaves.
Learn about advantage of tea with ginger, a melissa, a thyme, a camomile.
Broth from currant leaves
Broth helps at:
- bronchopulmonary diseases;
- colds and inflammatory processes;
- elevated pressure;
- cardiovascular problems;
- rheumatism;
- problems with a bladder;
- dysentery;
- atherosclerosis.
Simple recipe: the glass of currant foliage is filled in with three glasses of boiled water and 20 minutes are boiled. We cool and drink on a half of a glass three times a day.
Infusion from currant leaves
Infusion is applied at the same diseases, as broth.
Whether you know? Till 60th years of the 20th century there was one species of blackcurrant — European. These years in Europe the American mealy dew (fungal disease) spread and destroyed many plants as it is difficult to combat a disease. Selectors were forced to remove new grades, steady at the gene level. They appeared at the beginning of the 21st century.
The simple recipe for the solution of skin problems: 1 tablespoon of leaves of currant is crushed and filled in with two glasses of boiled water. Six hours infuse and four times a day are used on 0.25 glasses.
Spirit tincture
Spirit tincture well helps at gastritises with strongly lowered acidity. For its preparation it is necessary to fill in 20 g of fresh currant foliage with 1000 ml of white wine. Mix is closed and insisted three weeks. It is used on a half of a glass before meal.
Pay attention that at a disease of gastritis also use parsley, corn snouts, a bergenia, a St. John's wort, an immortelle sandy
Leaves, similar in properties
Several words about not less useful plants, than currant.
We recommend to you to esteem about preparation of leaves of cowberry, raspberry, a sea-buckthorn, wild strawberry.
Raspberry leaves
Foliage of raspberry strengthens immunity, normalizes work of heart, does not allow to develop to atherosclerosis. Broths and infusions from it use as expectorant and febrifuges at catarrhal and infectious diseases. Vitamin teas help to lose extra kilos, normalize appetite.
Wild strawberry leaves
Strawberry foliage is good toning and diuretic. The rich vitamin structure of a plant helps at an anemia. Teas and broths are useful to digestive tract. Can be allergens.
Sea-buckthorn leaves
Sea-buckthorn foliage well calms, stabilizes nervous system. Well affects a cardiovascular system. It is applicable at articulate diseases. Practically has no contraindications.
Cowberry leaves
Useful properties of cowberry:
- removes slags;
- possesses febrifugal action;
- strengthens protective function of an organism;
- possesses bile-expelling and diuretic action;
- normalizes exchange of proteins;
- lowers pressure;
- possesses antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action.
Because of the content of tannins do not recommend to drink broths and plant infusions to people with kidney problems. Because of ability to lower pressure they are not suitable for hypotensive persons. Can cause allergic reaction in people, sensitive to components of a plant.
Febrifugal action Pamela, honey with propolis, the kalganovy root, rice possess.
Blackberry leaves
Blackberry foliage is capable to bring worms out of an organism. If there are problems with immunity, then recommend to drink teas and plant decoctions. Also these drinks help to bring excess liquid and a phlegm out of an organism, to suppress inflammatory process.
Despite existence of a large amount of useful properties, a currant leaf it is not so appreciated in medicine and cosmetology as berry. We hope that you did not have doubts in medicinal properties of a plant and, having taken advice, you will restore the health.